Delicious 5-Color Brown Rice
How to Make Nutritious 5-Color Brown Rice
Hello everyone! A hearty bowl of rice is a wonderful source of energy for our bodies. Brown rice, in particular, is a type of whole grain where only the outer husk is removed, leaving it packed with nutrients. It contains significantly more vitamins, minerals, and powerful antioxidants than white rice, making it incredibly beneficial for health. Brown rice also helps in managing blood sugar levels and is beneficial for weight management, which is why many people seek it out as a healthy staple. Today, I’ll guide you step-by-step on how to make beautiful and tasty ‘5-Color Brown Rice’ at home. It will be a wholesome meal that takes care of your whole family’s health!
Rice Cooking Ingredients
- 4 cups white rice
- 4 handfuls of 5-color brown rice (approx. 1.2kg)
- 5 cups water (or as recommended by your rice cooker)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
The 5-color brown rice we’re using today is a high-quality mix of various brown rice varieties. It typically consists of a golden ratio: 40% brown rice, 10% glutinous brown rice, 20% glutinous green rice, 20% glutinous red rice, and 10% pearl glutinous black rice. This blend ensures a balance of nutrition, texture, and color. Storing this 5-color brown rice in the refrigerator will help maintain its freshness for longer, which is highly recommended. Please check the packaging information of your purchased 5-color brown rice.
Step 2
Prepare 4 cups of washed white rice and 4 handfuls of the 5-color brown rice. Here, ‘1 handful’ refers to the amount you can gently grasp with one hand, holding it loosely but fully. You can adjust this quantity based on how much rice you want to make, but typically one handful is about 30-40g. While the ratio of 5-color brown rice can be adjusted to your preference, using about 4 handfuls will allow you to fully enjoy the health benefits and satisfying chewy texture of brown rice.
Step 3
In a large bowl, combine the white rice and the 5-color brown rice. Using a spoon or spatula, mix them thoroughly to ensure both types of rice are evenly distributed. It’s important to mix gently so the rice grains don’t clump together. Mixing them beforehand will ensure that all ingredients cook uniformly, resulting in delicious rice.
Step 4
Now it’s time to wash the rice. If you find it inconvenient to get your hands wet while washing rice, or if you have a hand injury, there’s a very useful trick: use a ‘whisk’! Place the whisk over the rice, pour in water, and stir gently. This way, you can wash the rice cleanly without your hands getting significantly wet. Repeat this process 4-5 times, or until the rice water becomes clear. Be sure to wash gently, as aggressive washing can strip away the rice’s nutrients.
Step 5
Brown rice cooks up wonderfully fluffy and delicious in a pressure cooker. Especially when using a pressure cooker, there’s absolutely no need to pre-soak the brown rice! It will cook up tender even if you cook it immediately. However, if you’re using a regular pot or a regular rice cooker, it’s essential to soak the mixed rice and brown rice in water for at least 30 minutes. This allows the brown rice to absorb enough moisture to cook tenderly. If you have the time, soaking for about an hour is also a good idea.
Step 6
Add 5 cups of water to the 4 cups of unsoaked mixed white rice and brown rice. Then, cook using your pressure cooker’s ‘high pressure’ or ‘brown rice’ setting. The exact amount of water might vary slightly depending on your specific rice cooker model, so it’s best to refer to your cooker’s manual for the recommended water level. Cooking in the ‘savory rice’ mode can result in an even richer flavor.
Step 7
Once the cooking cycle is complete, you’ll have a bowl of steaming, glossy, and delicious 5-color brown rice! The moment you open the lid, a wonderful nutty aroma will fill the air, whetting your appetite. Gently fluff the rice with a rice paddle to separate the grains and make it look even more appetizing. Enjoy a satisfying and healthy meal with this 5-color brown rice that perfectly balances health and taste!
